The Hybrid Teas are picky about almost anything so they are thought to be the most difficult to grow in your garden. Most veteran gardeners would try to dissuade you but you can grow the roses you have always admired with just a little bit of proper guidance and additional care.
They are repeat bloomers and grow to blooming tea a height of 1.8 meters. Each bloom is about 8-12.5 cm wide with more than 60 petals. Although they are very beautiful to look at, their fragrance is very mild. La France, the very first hybrid tea, was created by a French gardener in 1867. Since then, this variety of roses has been the first choice for cut flowers because of it’s single bloom at the tip of a slender and tall stem. It blooms in all colors except blue. It is a cross between old tea roses and hybrid perpetuals.
Mildly acidic soil with a pH balance 6.0 to 6.5 is best for the Hybrid teas. It is also very prone to diseases and highly susceptible to very cold temperatures. Select your plants carefully. Ask for mildew resistance in case your summers are humid and heat tolerance if you live in a very hot climate zone. When planting, leave the bud union about 1-2 inches below the soil in cold climate conditions and about 1-2 inches above the soil in warm climate zones. It is thought best to prune hybrid teas soon after planting to encourage lots of new growth.
Feed your plant on a weekly or fortnightly basis with a well-balanced nutrient rich organic fertilizer. You need to stop fertilizing at least six week before frost. Keep the soil always moist and check for dryness by sticking your finger about 3 inches into the soil. If the soil is dry, water is not sufficient.
To brighten the color of the blooms and to aid fast growth of flowering canes, add a ¼ to ½ cup of Epsom salt into the soil (only if the magnesium level is non-existent or low in the soil). Leaves turning yellow is an indication of lack of iron and adding an iron supplement will set this straight. Mulching is important to the hybrid teas as it aids in cooling the roots and in the moisture retention of the soil.
Paradise Rose grows upright to a height of 5 ft. and has a fruity fragrance with red-edged silvery lavender blooms.
Barbara Bush is a well rounded bush and not very tall at 4-5 ft. It has a slight damask fragrance and is coral pink with ivory shades.
Peace needs extra care as it is very vulnerable to black spot. Itis bright yellow in color with a light fruity scent and huge, double blossoms. It prefers cooler summers.
Black Magic has a light sweet fragrance and is extra long stemmed. The blooms are a very deep dark red with black. It grows to a height of 5.5 ft tall.
Pristine grows upright and spreads out. It is about 4-6 ft in height. The bloom is creamy white with a light fragrance.